Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-18
THE PAVING PROBLEM.
A Correspondent Defines His Position as
Regards the Board.

an act establishing boards to take charge OF
the streets and water works. Under this
act boards were elected by Council. Many
citizens were fearful that we were exchang-
ing King Leg for King Stork, and the
Ne1rs-Letter used all its influence TO defeat
the scheme, and has only Of late ceased its
opposition to it.
The intention in establishing Board Of
Public Works was to place that b>dy in
charge Of the streets, and give it the care
and management of the repairs and i'm
proyement of the streets and alleys But
it never was intended that the Board
shoald have sole control Of the improve
ments of the streets, and should say what
streets should be improved, and what
should not. Two rules adopted by Coun-
Gil for the government of the Board clearly
show this. One is the rule setting aside
the revenues from police court, markets
and whaIves 90 form contingent fond 10
pay for cledRiRg Ae streets aud repdiriRg tie
pared streets TheR IL tnds found necessary.
The other is Rule t." which re-
stricts the Board, in the making
of contracts for Improvements, to
the sum of 1000, unless Council gives its
assent 10 the contract. Both of these rules
clearly prove that it was not the intention
of the Council that adopted them to say to
the Board of Public Works: "You can
pave what streets you please; all We have
to do is to provide the money, and you are
to be the sole judges of the work 10 be
done" II this were not 40, will some one
kindly point out what improvement was
made on the system under which the Street
Commissioner in his widest flights OF ex-
travagance never dared TO undertake the
paving OF q new street without On order Of
Council, and the people never intended
that Council should delegate such powers
TO him, or TO the Board of Public Works
which was substituted for him.
The Board of Public Works is now in its
fifth year, and We are brought iace TO face
with movement which looks like the be-
ginning OF n system which will entail more
corruption on our city government than
was ever known before, Council has
passed an ordinance prescribing certain
streets to be paved with bricks during the
present year, and determined effort il
being made by the b. y. w. and its
friends to repeal that ordinance, and place
about ninety thousand dollars Of public
money in the hands of three servants Of
the Council TO be spent by them when and
where they please. The members of COun-
Gil selected by the voters of the several
wards TO represent them, and attend TO
their interests, are urged TO violate their Of
ticial Oaths, and betray the trust placed IN
their hands, by giving the expenditure OF
this large sum Of money 10 three men the
people have had no voice in the selection
of. Can this he legally done? Is not
each member OF Council strictly RESPONSE
BILE TO his constituents for his act in this
matter, and can he hand this money over
TO Board to spend as IT wishes
The placing OF the money in the hands OF
the Board is being made political matter,
and some members of Council are urging
that this Board is Republican body, and
that it should not he restricted; that a
greater part of the work ordered is to I've
done in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth wa ds,
which are strongly Democratic,
and il shnnld. therefore not
DO done by Council which is accidentally
Republican. To these members Of Conn
Gil let word be said "Your partisan
spirit will come home To you in your pri-
yate business; people will not draw the
line between your public and private con-
duct, and az you attempt 10 prescribe Il
ward for being Democratic, Democrats
will prescribe you in your business for be-
ing Republican Some of you are known
to treat your Democratic neighbOrs ~ If
you thought the word Democrat n syn
Onym for scoundrel, and little more at
your partisan spirit will come back on you
to your hurt"
TO the Democrats in Council who are
assisting in this matter we would say:
look before you leap. Ii you think it
right To assist in furnishing those wards for
voting AZ you do, you had better haul
down yonr flags and run up those of the
opposite party"
HaR there been huything in the action Of
the present Board ol Public Works TO indi-
cate any intention tO 10 equal justice to
all parts OF the city. When the Committee
on Streets and Alleyp met the Board, in
March, 10 make an estimate Of the amount
necessary for this years expenditures in
their department, they presented 10 the
Board an arm full Of petitions for curbing,
paved CUTTERS, and crossings trom persons
living on unimproved streets, many OF
them laboring men, who lad after years OF
toll seclred homes for their families, and
only asked for small improvement in
front of them, and what was the action Of
the Board in reference TO them? I'VE
don't want to look at those, or consider
them; we want about $50, 900, and we do
not intend TO give You even statement OF
what streets we will imprsVe." Is not
this an instance Of the creature becoming
greater than the creator?
We do not write, Mr.. Editor, in spirit
Of eumity TO the Board Of Public Works.
We believe now, and have from the first
believed in the propriety and advantage
OF its creation. But we also believe and
know that this movement 70 place large
portions Of the public funds at the diaGre-
ti0n of the Board, without restriction
even assent on the part Of Council, II not
in accordance with the wishes Of the per
sons who were the original movers f0T its
establishment The present members OF
the Board are gentlemen Of the striCtest
integrity, and no man can say aught
against their standing in the community.
Hut this movement IL but the entering
wedge - the destruction Of the reform
which The Board was established TO effect,
and it will be bad day for the city when
partisan politics are permitted 10 open the
door 10 an unrestricted expenditure Of
public money by the servants Of, rather
than by The Council its~lf y. Y. u.
BRIDGEPoET.